Title: Rekindling Their Bonds - Chapter 13
Author: Viper Inferno
Genre: Action/Adventure Romance
Rated: PG
Author's Notes: This is my first Legend of Zelda fanfic, though I've been a fan of the series since the very beginning. This fanfic is a Link/Saria shipping, and takes place in the Ocarina of Time universe. Last chapter was so awesome, as it was mainly a battle chapter and some good screen time for Ruto. I love writing battles in most types of fanfiction, whether it's game fanfiction or anime fanfiction. But what does the Great Deku Sprout want with Link? Find out as you read. Enjoy.
Rekindling Their Bonds
By Viper Inferno
Chapter 13: Testing Their Bonds
The Great Deku Sprout's Meadow...
Having been summoned by the Great Deku Sprout upon his return to Kokiri Forest, Link followed the fairy through the village itself. Link passed by a number of Kokiri on his way there, with some of them greeting him. Sure he waved to some of those Kokiri, but Link regretted not having the time to properly greet and socialize with them as he usually did when he came home from outside the forest. The Great Deku Sprout had summoned Link to see him, and his fairy made it sound quite urgent. As much as he lamented not greeting the others, he had to find out why he was summoned.
So Link followed the yellow fairy through the passage leading to the Great Deku Sprout's Meadow. Surprisingly, he found the normally vicious Deku Babas to be rather silent and tranquil. At least he didn't have to cut them down to see the Great Deku Sprout this time like he usually had to. And when he emerged from the passageway, the yellow fairy took off and rejoined the other fairies hovering around the Great Deku Sprout.
"Link, come hither," the Great Deku Sprout summoned.
Link slowly walked up to the Great Deku Sprout, with Navi in tow. Both were feeling quite apprehensive as they approached the forest's patron.
"Link, I am sorry I had to summon thee upon thy return to Kokiri Forest," the Great Deku Sprout immediately apologized. "Thou hast left to help the Zoras, hast thou not?"
"Yes," Link replied. "My friend's village was in trouble just like ours was yesterday. I just couldn't stand by and let her people suffer."
"Yes, I know. Thou art very heroic and think of others before thyself," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Even when peace is upon Hyrule, thou art heroic. That, my dear boy, is the true meaning of heroism. Thou hast saved Saria from a feral Wolfos attack in the Lost Woods, thou hast defeated a band of thieves and returned that which they hath stolen, and now thou hast saved two villages from meeting an ill fate."
"Yeah, even during peace, with Ganondorf gone, there's always something going on," Link commented.
"Yet, thou hast always done the right thing no matter what," the Great Deku Sprout continued. "One's chivalry and heroism are measured in all hours of life and not just the times of great struggle. And whether conquering evil or helping thy friends with the simplest of tasks, such selfless acts are what make a true hero."
"I understand," said Link.
"He really is a hero," said Navi. "When we arrived at Zora's Domain, it was completely frozen over. There was an ice monster there waiting for Princess Ruto to return. But Link defeated such a big monster almost seemingly with ease."
"Humph, speak for yourself," Link objected. "He wasn't as easy as I made him look. His minions and the fact that he could throw ice at me made it a tough fight. Most of my battles aren't easy, and you know it."
"I know, Link. Jeez, I was only trying to show you off," said Navi, rolling her eyes back.
"I see thy task to help the Zoras was a perilous one. This I have sensed," said the Great Deku Sprout. "But, the question is why the Zoras were in such peril? Who wouldst commit such evil against thy friend and for what purpose?"
"Well... it was Koume's twin sister, Kotake," Link replied.
"The sister of the witch who set our village and our forest on fire," Navi added.
"And like Koume, she was after the Princess Ruto's Spiritual Stone," Link continued.
"I see," said the Great Deku Sprout. And then, all fell silent as he pondered everything that Link just explained. He thought about the attack on Kokiri Forest, and how it had caught even him by surprise. More so, he reflected on his thoughts since Koume set the forest ablaze and thus ruined the annual summer festival. "Tis what I feared, 'Tis what I have sensed," he said. "And I see thou hast sensed it too, Link. Thou hast sensed it in thy recent dreams, hast thou not?"
"What do you mean? What is it?" Link anxiously asked.
"Why were we summoned so soon when we returned home?" Navi asked just as anxiously.
"I apologize, Link, but I did not summon thee just to tell thee about thy heroism," said the Great Deku Sprout. "I have sensed this only yesterday when the wicked witch from the desert attacked our beloved forest the home of my children. It hath troubled me since then, and what hath happened today only confirmed my fears. I fear that evil hath once again descended upon all of Hyrule."
Both Link and Navi gasped both visibly and quite audibly at the Great Deku Sprout's revelation.
"Oh my goddesses," Navi gasped, while Link stood completely speechless.
"If that malevolent witch was after Kokiri's Emerald and her sister was after the Zora's Spiritual Stone, then they must seek the Spiritual Stones for the same reason that Ganondorf hath sought them over two years ago: to open the way to the Sacred Realm," the Great Deku Sprout explained.
"Why else would anyone evil be after the Spiritual Stones?" said Navi, remembering what Link and Saria had discussed earlier.
"Yeah, Twinrova is one of Ganondorf's most loyal servants," said Link. "With Ganondorf sealed away in the Sacred Realm, they must be after them so they could free him."
"Yes, it certainly seems so," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Although the Sages of the future hath sealed Ganondorf away in the present, his darker ideas still live on, as doth those who follow them."
"But during my first adventure, he had very few followers, except for a bunch of monsters. And the Gerudos refuse to recognize him as their king since he first attacked Hyrule," said Link.
"Except Twinrova," Navi corrected. "Remember, they were at the Spirit Temple even when you returned there as a child in the present."
"Link, Navi the fairy, I know only a month hath passed since thy return from thy long journey, but thou must protect the Spiritual Stones and prevent Twinrova from releasing Ganondorf from his prison in the Sacred Realm," said the Great Deku Sprout.
"Somehow, I knew Twinrova was up to no good the moment they attacked our village," said Link. "They attacked our home, they attacked Ruto's home, and... oh no... Darunia."
"They're probably after the Gorons and their Goron's Ruby too," said Navi.
"I've got to help them," Link said as he quickly turned and began to run.
"Link?" Navi called out to him, taking off after him.
"Link, wait," said the Great Deku Sprout, stopping Link after only a few steps. Link turned around, wondering why the forest's patron stopped him. "Thou must seek out Princess Zelda as well. She must know about the malevolent forces at work and the evil that has descended upon Hyrule. I sense that she will be of great importance on thy quest."
"Right, I'll do that," said Link. He then thought to himself, 'I still have the Ocarina of Time. I wonder what she'll want me to do with it.'
"Link, what about Saria?" Navi asked, reminding him of the one person most important to him and what she must think.
And Link's heart sank into his stomach at the mention of her name. 'Oh no... Saria...,' he thought to himself. With there being peace in Hyrule, and having found Navi after an over two-year long journey, he and Saria were finally together again. Not only that, their special friendship was growing... he loved her. He had finally realized in his heart that he loved her. And now, he was going to have to leave her again... but for how long?
"What's she going to think when she learns that you're leaving the forest again for the goddesses know how long?" Navi asked.
"Yeah... it means I lave to leave Saria behind again," said Link. And with that thought looping in his mind, he fell to his knees. "I don't want to leave her again. We both get sad when we don't get to play together and play our ocarinas and talk about everything. But... I have to go see Darunia and Zelda. I have to find Twinrova and stop them. I... I... don't know."
"I see thou art troubled by having to leave thy best friend again," said the Great Deku Sprout.
"Yeah, you can say that again," said Link.
"Believe me, my dear Link, it troubles me to place such a burden upon thee. I know thy friends here mean so much to thee, and I know Saria means even more," said the Great Deku Sprout.
"She's my best friend in the whole world. She's been there for me for so long. Of course she means a lot to me," said Link, sadly hanging his head. "I don't want to leave her again. I wish I didn't have to leave again, that I could just stay here and not have to leave on such long journeys all the time and not see my best friend for ... I don't know how long. But... I have to leave. I have to make sure Darunia and the Gorons are okay. I can't let Twinrova release Ganondorf."
"I understand thou art confused. Thou care greatly for thy friends and wish to be with them, and then again cannot. But thou truly art a boy of good heart," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Thou think of the feelings of others, be they stranger or friend, before thy own. Even with this burden placed on thy shoulders, thou wander what Saria would think of thy quest."
"Just tell her that you have to leave again," suggested Navi. "She knows what happened here and at Zora's Domain. So tell her that you have to stop Twinrova and keep them from releasing Ganondorf."
"That's easy for you to say," Link argued. "You weren't here when I had to tell Saria that I was leaving to look for you. You didn't see her cry when I left."
"No, but I was here," said the Great Deku Sprout. "I know how Saria felt about thy leaving the forest and I heard her crying when thou left. Without a doubt, Saria wilt feel quite sad to see her best friend leave again and not know when he wilt return. But, thou shalt have faith in Saria, for she hath faith in thee."
All of Link's thoughts, mixed together with his, Navi's, and the Great Deku Sprouts words, created a jumbled mess in his mind. He couldn't make sense of what he was feeling nor the conflict raging on within. All he could do was mutter whatever stood out. "It... makes me very sad to leave Saria... and... seeing her cry because of it makes me even sadder."
"Saria cries when thou leave on thy quest because thou art her best friend," said the Great Deku Sprout. "It is how she expresses her sadness over seeing thee leave and not knowing when thou wilt return. Thou express thy sadness over having to leave her too, even if thy way of expressing is different than hers, dost thou not?"
"Yeah... I guess you're right," Link somberly replied, hanging his head in utter defeat. With that, he was left with nothing else to say. Although the storm of thoughts in his mind had calmed, only his confused feelings remained. He feared for the safety of both his friends and the citizens of Hyrule. But as determined as he was to stop the evil that threatened Hyrule, he lamented having to leave his best friend again to do it.
However, Link had to be honest with himself. What made leaving Saria so troubling for him was not just the fact that he was leaving his best friend again. He was also leaving behind the girl he loved. It was the fact that their special bond was just beginning to grow, the fact that they were just beginning to explore just how much closer of friends they could be, that made having to leave her behind so difficult and so painful.
"Like Navi said to thee, just tell Saria about thy adventure like thou hast done when thou left on thy search for Navi," suggested the Great Deku Sprout. "She understands that thou hast had such burdens placed upon thee. She wilt be sad, she may cry, but she wilt understand and support thee. Thou art the best of friends, after all... no matter what."
"Yeah, I'll do that," said Link as he stood back up. Then, he turned and sadly walked toward the path back to the village. "But... it won't be easy."
"It rarely is, my boy. It rarely is," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Thou art growing up. And as thou grow, thou wilt find that many things become less and less easy. It is what separates the children from the adults in the world. I wish thee many blessings on thy adventure."
"I see... thanks, Great Deku Sprout," said Link. He then slowly left the Great Deku Sprout's Meadow with Navi following close behind. Both he and Navi remained silent as Link lumbered through the unusually quiet winding path. In fact, a thousand different scenarios of his bad news to Saria were playing in his head like a super fast slideshow. It was all confusing, and thus only made him even more nervous.
When they emerged from the passageway and into the village, Navi finally spoke up. "Why don't you spend some time with Saria tonight?" she suggested. "You told me how you regretted not spending a night under the stars with her the night before you left on your last adventure."
That one suggestion suddenly washed away the mess of confusion in Link's mind. In its place came that memory from over two years ago, where Link and Saria played many songs on their ocarinas throughout much of the day before they had to return to Kokiri Forest. "That's right... I almost forgot."
"At least you'll have one last wonderful night with her before you begin your journey," said Navi.
"Yeah, but I still have to tell her that I'll be leaving, and now," said Link. "I can't just keep her in the dark until we've spent all evening together... it wouldn't be right."
"That's not what I meant, and you know..." said Navi.
"Hi Link!" a girl's voice suddenly greeted, cutting Navi off.
Link's mind snapped right back to reality. He quickly gazed around and spotted the cerulean eyes of the blond, pigtailed Fado.
"I'm so glad you're home. You left so suddenly after that weird girl came, I was wondering about you," said Fado. But as she stepped closer to Link to hug him, his rather somber expression caught her attention and froze her in her tracks. "Link? What's wrong?"
'Damn... Fado already notices,' Link thought to himself. 'She's another cheerful face that I have to leave behind... I'd hate to have to tell her. But... Saria has to know first. She deserves it.'
"Hi Fado... it's just... been a long day, that's all," he replied, trying to crack a smile to reassure her. He hated having to lie to Fado, but he had to tell Saria first before letting everyone else know.
"Oh, okay," Fado acknowledged as she bought his response, but not without looking confused in the process. "Well, you go and get you some rest, 'kay?" she suggested. "See 'ya, Link."
"Wait, Fado," Link said right before she turned to run off. Fado turned back to him, looking even more confused. "Do you know where Saria is?"
That one question wiped the perplexed look from Fado's face. And she smiled brightly as she replied, "Yes, she's waiting for you at your house. See 'ya, Link."
Although Fado's normally cheerful voice was music to his ears, Link could only wonder what kind of music he'd have to face with Saria. So with Fado gone, Link took a deep breath and walked straight toward his house. When he reached his ladder, he paused for a moment and reflected on everything that Navi and the Great Deku Sprout had told him. With their words empowering him, however little they did, Link mustered up the will and began to ascend his ladder.
When he reached his door, he simply moved his door curtain aside and found Saria sitting in the chair by his table, with Spryte hovering close by. Right when he stepped inside, Saria stood and approached him. As she walked up to him, Link felt his chest burning inside. He knew he had to tell her that he was leaving and wouldn't know when he was coming back, and it pained him to have to. But when Saria wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him, that burning sensation shot through his whole body and made him tense up.
"Welcome home, Link," said Saria as she tightened her hug. "I wanted to wait here for you while you were talking to the Great Deku Sprout." Then, she let go of Link. "So why did he summon you?" Saria asked.
Link was slow to try and answer that question as hundreds of different ways he could tell her swam through his head like a school of fish. Choosing the right one was just too hard. He barely even had a chance to conjure an answer when Saria noticed the gloomy look on his face. "Link, what's wrong?" she asked. "What did he say?"
"Well...," Link began, and then took a deep breath as he explained. "It's something about that not only we and the Zoras, but also the Gorons and Princess Zelda are in danger too. He said that... that..."
Link's stuttering paired with the gloomy look on his face sent shivers running up and down Saria's spine. 'What... what's happening?' she thought to herself. "Link, you're scaring me... what is it?" she said, slowly and unconsciously backing away from him.
"He sensed that Twinrova has come back, and is after the Spiritual Stones to release Ganondorf back into our world, just like we talked about earlier today. He's saying...," Link explained, and then paused again as his chest started to burn again from the anxiety. "He said that... evil has fallen over Hyrule again. And it's not just us, but all of Hyrule is in danger."
Saria gasped very loudly and brought her left hand to her chest. Her mouth hung open and her blue eyes froze wide open. 'I knew it... I just knew it... I knew I had a bad feeling about all of this,' she thought to herself. However, despite all the questions she had, Saria remained frozen as thoughts of Koume burning their village reentered her mind. It was an image she would never be able to completely remove from her mind, for she had never witnessed anything like it in her life. "So... you mean... those witches' attacks on our homes...," she gasped.
"Yeah... was just the beginning," Link replied. 'Dammit, Link, stop beating around the bushes and just tell her already,' he chided inwardly.
"I... I have to see Darunia. I just... hope that Twinrova hasn't attacked the Gorons too."
"I see," Saria somberly replied with the expression on her face mirroring the look on Link's. "So... is the Great Deku Sprout putting you up to this? Is he sending you there to see if they were attacked too?"
"Yeah... he is. But...," Link replied, and then paused as he took a deep breath. "I won't just be going to save the Gorons. There's a lot more happening here. I can sense it, the Great Deku Sprout senses it, and I know you sense it too. I have to stop Twinrova before they do more to the people of Hyrule. I have to keep them from bringing Ganondorf back."
Saria felt her chest burning inside as Link told her. She clinched her left fist tightly as her arms began to tremor. "You're... leaving again... as in... leaving on another big adventure...and don't know when you'll be coming back... aren't you?"
"Yes," Link sadly replied. "I don't want to have to go, but I can't stay here and let Twinrova get away with nearly destroying our homes. I can't let them get the Spiritual Stones and release Ganondorf. I don't want to go, but I have to."
Saria couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was happening all over again, and again. Something bad was happening and Link had to leave the forest, and leave her, again. And as the fact that he was leaving kept looping in her head, she uncurled her trembling left hand and pressed it against her chest. "But... but... you just came back from traveling the world. You just fought a lot of evil already. You've only been home for a month and you're already leaving again?" Saria protested, with her face looking to be on the verge of tears.
"I know," Link sadly replied as he averted his eyes. He just couldn't bear to look at her expression without feeling the dagger pierce his heart. He knew she wasn't going to like him having to leave again, and it really hurt him deep inside to have to. But that look on her face just shredded away at his soul.
"I thought we finally had peace in the forest and in all of Hyrule. I thought that after your two-year long journey traveling the world, you were finally home to stay. I thought that we could be together again," Saria emphasized. Her eyes were fighting hard to deep the tears locked away, but they had her trembling body and the burning in her chest to fight.
"Believe me... I thought so too," Link somberly said, his eyes not even daring to meet Saria's.
As desperately as Saria tried to hold them back, she felt the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "I... I thought we'd grow up together. I thought we could finally make up for all that time we were apart, I...," she continued, but hesitated as the burning sensation crawled up her throat and reached her face. She could feel the tears now cascading down her cheeks, and she drew in a sharp breath and whimpered, "We shared some wonderful moments together, Link. We shared our feelings with each other. You even gave me my first kiss. And now you're leaving again?"
Link didn't even have to look at her. He knew she was crying from the moment he heard her hesitate. But when he heard her voice start to whimper, a tsunami of guilt flooded his soul. "I... don't know what to say. But... I'll be back, just like last time," he said.
"Link, look at me," she whimpered.
Link couldn't avoid it any monger, Saria wasn't having any of it. So he reluctantly turned and laid his eyes upon hers. Her normally cheerful and beautiful blue eyes were bloodshot red and shedding rivers of tears. And when he saw those tears cascading down her cheeks, his heart sank in his chest and his throat twisted itself into a knot to where he couldn't speak.
"Is this the way it's going to be?" Saria whimpered, visibly choking back a couple of sobs. "You come home for a month, a few weeks... a few days... and then you leave again on another journey for months, even years?"
"I...I... I don't know. I hope not," Link replied, barely squeezing the words past his lips. "I... don't... like having to leave you. I just don't."
"But... I can't bear to see you leave again... and again, and again," Saria whimpered. She couldn't choke it back anymore. It had drained so much from her that she fell to her knees, buried her face in her hands, and broke out weeping.
Link turned his face away when she started crying. However, the sounds of her sobs were beating in his head like a drum. Link didn't know what to do, what to say, or what to offer to put Saria more at ease. All he could do at that moment was close his eyes and try to block out his own tears that had begun knocking on his door. 'Just come back to her when it's all over,' he unconsciously told himself.
So he opened his eyes and turned back to his best friend as she cried. "Saria...," he barely muttered as he took a step toward her. "I... I'll come back. When it's all over... I'll come back... I always do."
Saria lifted her tear-soaked face and looked right into Link's eyes. "But what if you don't? Your adventures are always so dangerous. What if something happens to you and I never get to see you again?" she argued, and then started crying again.
"Saria," Link gasped. He had to admit, she was right. Link had faced so many dangerous monsters and minions of evil on his adventures that there were many times that he could've easily met his end. No matter how much he could promise to Saria that he would come home, there was always the possibility that he couldn't keep that promise.
"I just... I can't... I don't want," Saria blubbered. "I... I can't take this... I can't take... seeing you leave... I just can't." And suddenly, she shot up and ran right by Link and straight for his door, crying the whole way out.
"Saria, wait!" Link called out as he ran after her. But Spryte quickly flew right in front of his face, stopping him after he'd barely taken a couple steps.
"Link, just let her go," Spryte said in a commanding yet comforting voice. "You both are growing up. So you having to leave again is that much harder for the both of you. And it's especially hard for her. Give her some time, okay?"
Spryte then sadly slipped out of Link's house between the doorframe and the door curtain, leaving the distraught boy to his thoughts.
"Spryte's right, you know," said Navi. She slowly hovered up to Link and perched on his shoulder. There, she gave his shoulder a gentle and sympathetic caress. "Think about how distraught you were just a little bit ago when you realized you had to leave her again."
"Yeah... even more than when I had to leave her to look for you," said Link.
"It's because you're growing up. And as you grow up, a lot of things in life become more and more complicated for both you and her," Navi explained. "It's the same for everyone who grows up. It's a part of life, and something that the other Kokiri thankfully never have to experience."
"I see," said Link. "And the fact that I love her only makes it that much harder for us... right?"
"Yes... it does," Navi replied.
"I guess I won't be spending one last wonderful night with her, huh?" Link somberly said.
"I guess not," Navi replied. "But... you can still write to her and come by to visit her during your journey, you know?"
"Yeah... I know," said Link as he walked toward his door.
"Wait, you're going to leave already? The sun's already starting to set," Navi protested. "Why not wait until morning like you always do?"
"That's what I'm gonna do," said Link. "I'm just... going out for a bit. Stay here and watch over the house, okay?"
"Stay here? Why? I'm your guardian fairy. I always accompany you," Navi protested.
"I know... I just want to be alone for a while... that's all," Link sadly explained. "See 'ya, Navi."
Then, he moved his door curtain aside and left his house, leaving the little blue fairy to her thoughts.
"Link...," she gasped. She hated having to let Link go. She worried about him, not only because of his upcoming adventure, but also for his well-being. Having to leave Saria behind again troubled both youths more than ever, and she wondered how Link was going to take it once he leaves the forest in the morning. All she could do now was let out a sigh and float over to her basket bed.
Back outside, Link sadly climbed down his ladder. As he did, he wondered where he wanted to go to be alone. Anywhere in Kokiri Forest was out of the question, and he didn't want to leave the forest either. So that left only the Lost Woods for him to go to be alone, and that was what he decided. But whether to go to the Sacred Forest Meadow, the big twisted moss tree, or the lake where he and Saria shared their first kiss was a decision he was going to have to make when he got there.
When Link turned around to make his way through the village, he found a rather angry-looking Mido stomping up to him. "Hey Growing Boy, you big bully," he snarled as he got right up in Link's face. "What the hell is the big idea?"
"What do you mean?" Link asked, wondering why Mido was so angry with him all of a sudden.
"You know what you did. I saw Saria running out of your house, crying. Now what did you do to her to make her cry?" Mido demanded, inching his angry face closer and closer to Link's.
"N-nothing, I swear, I just...," Link pleaded. Then, he paused and averted his eyes downward, his frown returning to his face. "I just told her that I had to leave the forest again on another journey."
"What? Whaaaat? Again? You just came back a month ago and now you're leaving again?" Mido complained. "I swear, you're gone more than you're here ever since the Great Deku Tree died. How long are you gonna be gone for this time, huh? Weeks? Months? Years?"
"I don't know," Link sadly replied before he looked back up at Mido. "Believe me, I don't like having to leave everyone and my best friend behind. But I can't let that witch get away with burning our forest." He then shifted around Mido and began to walk away.
"And just where are you going?" Mido demanded. "Surely you aren't leaving already. It's already evening."
"I'm going to the Lost Woods," Link replied. "I want to be alone for a while. Saria didn't go there, did she?"
"No, she didn't," a somewhat perplexed Mido answered.
"That's good. I'm probably the last person she wants to see right now," Link somberly commented. And with that, he sadly continued on his way toward the Lost Woods, giving somber greetings to what few Kokiri he passed by.
That night...
Hours after the sun had set, with all the Kokiri having joined the world in slumber, Saria only lied down in her bed, still wearing her green tunic and shorts and dark green turtleneck. She was very much wide awake and still quite distraught over the Link having to leave the forest again. And since then, since she had burst out of his house in tears and straight into hers, she had not once left her house.
For at least an hour since her hasty and tearful retreat, she laid in her bed and cried into her pillow. And now, she simply laid on her back with her hands resting behind her head and stared up at her ceiling. The small oil nightlight sitting on her table nearby just barely highlighted the wood grain patterns all around her house. No matter how much she tried to close her eyes and drift into sleep, thoughts about Link and being without him again kept her wide awake.
In her left hand, she held the beautiful raindrop locket that Link had given her, with its chain hanging freely from her hand and down the side of her chest. Many times throughout the night, she had clutched the locket tightly in her hand whenever she thought about Link. And then, as the moment when Link first gave her the locket played in her mind, she rolled over onto her left side and lit her bedside lantern. Having given up on sleep, she shifted her position, lied on her belly and elbows, and gazed at the locket in her now open left hand.
Her eyes slowly traced over the diamond and emerald studs that dotted the locket near its outer edges. But as she unconsciously shifted her left hand, the warm light glistening on the large sapphire in the center caught her eye. She took her right index finger and lightly caressed the blue gem, taking in the feel of its many facets. It was such a beautiful locket that Saria couldn't help but to be captivated by it, even after two weeks since Link had given it to her.
Then, Saria pressed her finger against the sapphire and slowly slid the locket open, revealing a black and white picture of Link. She gazed at the picture and imagined her fingers tracing over his facial features. Since she had gotten the locket, she peeked at Link's pictures many times either at night or whenever he was away. And now, as her finger gently touched his smiling face, all she could think about was how this picture was going to be the only way she could see Link, and that she could only imagine her fingers caressing his face.
She felt the tears flowing freely down her cheeks again as that thought dwelled on her mind. Seeing his picture once again reminded her that he was leaving her again. How long would he be gone this time? She did not know. All she had of Link was the old group picture with her sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a younger Link, and her locket. She quickly shut the locket and gripped it tightly in her hand. The burning in her chest quickly reached her throat, and Saria threw her face into her pillow and started crying again.
"Mmm... Saria dear, you're still awake?" Spryte groaned as she awoke from her slumber. She sat up in her basket bed hanging from the ceiling above Saria's nightstand and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Then, she realized how Saria had woken her when the young girl's sobs reached her ears. So she fluttered her wings and floated down beside Saria's face while she cried into her pillow.
"Mmhmm...," Saria replied as she kept crying.
"You know, you should at least try to get some sleep," suggested Spryte. "It might help a little."
"Oh yeah, that's so easy for you to say," Saria argued, lifting her face from the pillow and staring her guardian fairy in the face, showing her the tears cascading down her cheeks.
"So you're still thinking about Link having to leave again, huh?" said Spryte.
"My best friend is leaving again on some long and dangerous adventure... again. Of course I'm still thinking about him," Saria whimpered and then cried into her pillow again.
"Well, dear, he is the Hero of Time, and there's all kinds of evil in the world. You know that when evil comes, Link has to leave on another adventure to stop it," Spryte explained. "You knew all of this. You knew that he would leave on a long adventure, even before he first left the forest."
Yeah, but... I still didn't like it then, and I still don't like it now," Saria whimpered, her voice half-muffled by her pillow.
"Yes... I know you were very sad when Link first left the forest. You even cried that night. And when he left to look for Navi, you couldn't keep from crying right in front of him when he left. Believe me, I know how sad seeing him leave makes you," said Spryte.
"I just... can't bear seeing him leave... I just can't," Saria whimpered in between sobs.
"Because of your newfound feelings for him, right?" Spryte inquired.
Saria lifted her face from her pillow. "Yes. We were having such wonderful times together. I realized that I had feelings for him. We kissed under the moonlight. I even told him that I love him. And now, he's leaving again... just as we were getting so much closer," Saria blubbered.
"Yes... I can understand how seeing him leave again is that much harder on you," said Spryte. "But remember, you've always been very supportive of him, even though you were sad to see him leave. You helped him on his adventures in ways that even you and I don't realize."
"I know, Spryte. I know," said Saria. "It's not just that... I don't know when he's coming back. The first time that he left, he was gone for months. And the last time he left, he was gone for over two years... and was much farther away from home."
"Yes, but he does write to you, does he not?" Spryte asked.
"Yes... as often as he can and whenever he can," Saria replied.
"And he did visit you a few times during his first adventure, right?" Spryte reminded.
Saria nodded in response. Causing a few more tears to fall from her eyes and soak into the pillow.
"Well, as far as Link and Navi know, his journey will very much keep him in Hyrule. So I'm very sure he'll come to see you whenever he can. And when he can't come to see you, he'll write to you," said Spryte, trying her best to reassure Saria. "He's your best friend, he cares a lot about you, so he'll make sure to write you and visit you, okay?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Saria softly agreed. "But... I... I don't want him to go. I want to see him. I want to be with him. I want to..."
And Saria paused as she just about said it. Right at that instant, a bright idea landed right in her lap. And that one idea sent a rush of anxiety through her like a tidal wave as it had neatly presented itself as the solution to her whole dilemma. It was then that she suddenly knew exactly what she wanted. "I... want to go with him," she muttered.
"What do you mean, 'go with him'?" Spryte protested. "You know that Kokiri..."
But Spryte's protest fell on deaf ears as Saria threw her legs over the side of her bed. She then stood up and quickly slid her boots on, and rubbed her left forearm across her eyes to wipe the tears away.
"Saria, what are you...," Spryte began to ask, but Saria turned and ran out of her house before the little fairy could finish. With Saria quickly gone, she let out a discontented sigh and muttered to herself, "That girl... she's getting more and more bold and spontaneous as she grows up."
Back outside, Saria walked though the village with a since of purpose and a determined look on her face. When she walked by Link's house, she paused and glanced up at his door high up the tree. When she did, thoughts of the boy sleeping inside entered her mind. But this time, she did not cry, but instead thought to herself, 'Link... I don't want you to go. But... since you have to... I want to go with you... to see the world that you've seen. If this is the way it's going to be, you always leaving on long adventures away from the forest, then... I want to be there with you.'
"Where are you going, Saria?" Spryte asked as she caught up to Saria and broke her from her thoughts.
"To see the Great Deku Sprout," Saria replied. She then quickly turned and marched through the village and toward the Great Deku Sprout's Meadow.
"I see," said Spryte as she hung her head down and followed Saria to the twisty path leading to the Great Deku Sprout. There, they found the Deku Babas asleep and completely serene. That relieved her of any worries about a possible nighttime attack from them.
So Saria tip-toed walked through the twisty path, being ever so careful as to not awaken the vicious plants. And soon after her short yet careful trip, she found herself in the vast meadow where the Great Deku Sprout and his long dead predecessor stood. Very few fairies flitted about as most of them were asleep at this late hour. It was a sight not new to Saria, for she had visited the Great Deku Sprout a few times at night while Link was away on his search for Navi.
"My dear Saria... still awake at this late hour. Come hither," said the ever so alert Great Deku Sprout.
Upon hearing him speak to her, Saria took a deep breath, relaxed her body, and approached the arboreal patron.
"I see that something troubles thee and keeps thee in the waking world tonight," said the Great Deku Sprout.
"Yeah, Link told me he had to leave the forest again on another long journey," said Saria. "It's just like the last time he left on a long journey. He's home for barely a month, and now he has to leave again."
"The same, yes, but this time is different too. Last time, Link left because he hath chosen to in order to find his long lost friend. This time, the evil descending upon Hyrule hath made the choice for him. This is a burden that is being placed on his shoulders. It is a burden that he hath beared time and time again," the Great Deku Sprout explained.
"Yes... but... I just can't bear seeing him leave...again, and again, and again... I just can't," said Saria as she squeezed her eyes shut to hold the tears back.
"I see. Is this the reason that thou art having trouble sleeping?" the Great Deku Sprout asked.
"Yes. I just can't get it off my mind," said Saria. "I feel like this is how it's going to be forever. Link may come home again, but after a few weeks he has to leave again. It's an endless cycle, and I'll never get to see my best friend like we used to."
"Well, my dear Saria, Link is the Hero of Time. To have these burdens placed on his shoulders is his destiny. Thus, Link having to leave the forest was then and continues to be inevitable. Yet, Link chooses to return to this forest after completing his journeys. It is those times that Link is here amongst us that we must cherish," the Great Deku Sprout explained.
"I see," said Saria as she frowned at his explanation. "I did cherish the time I had with Link. He and I spent some wonderful times together. We threw a big welcome home party on his birthday. He even got to be in this year's festival with us. But now he's going to be gone again, and I don't know when... or if I'll ever see him again.
"Yes, I see that thou hast always cherished thy time with Link, and I can understand thy concern for his safety. But, Link needs the support of all his friends, especially his best friend. He needs someone to come home to, someone to spend time with him, and someone to help ease his troubles that his journey will certainly bring him. It is the least that thou can do for him, and what thou hast always done for him," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Was it not thou who taught him how to play the ocarina that proved to be crucial during his journeys?"
"Yes... it was," Saria replied. Then, she looked right back up into his eyes. "But what more can I do for him now? There's nothing I can do except just sit here and wait and worry."
"Just be there for him, and share with him thy friendship. As far as I can foresee, Link's journey wilt likely keep him within Hyrule... just like his first journey hath done. And just like with his first journey, I am certain Link wilt come to visit thee."
"That's just it. I want to be there for him, but I can't take seeing him come and go and wondering if I'll ever see him again," said Saria. Then, she paused for a moment and took a deep breath as her heart started to pound in her chest. "That's why... I... want to go with him."
And then silence fell upon the meadow. Saria felt her heart beating harder and the blood rushing though her veins as she waited anxiously for what seemed like minutes for the Great Deku Sprout to respond.
But after only ten seconds, the Great Deku Sprout responded, "Now, Saria, thou know that the children of Kokiri Forest cannot leave this forest."
"Yes, I know that," said Saria. "But... I want to see the world that Link sees. I want to be able to help him and be there with him and give him my support. I can't do that here anymore. I just think, I can help him best if I go with him."
"I understand thy concern for thy best friend and thy desire to be with him. But thou art my beloved child, and I cannot allow my beloved children to leave the forest," said the Great Deku Sprout.
"But Link is your beloved child too, isn't he? Yet you let him leave the forest," Saria argued.
"Now now, dear, don't argue...," Spryte pleaded, trying to stop Saria from arguing with and questioning the forest's guardian, something no one ever did.
"That is because Link is a Hylian, and not a Kokiri. Thus, he could leave the forest at his leisure," the Great Deku Sprout explained. "But... I assure thee, it pained my predecessor to have to send Link out of the forest for his first journey. And it pains me now to have to send him out now. Although full of many wonders as told in my stories, the world is also full of many dangers. It would fill be with great sorrow should ill happenings befall any of my children. That is one of the reasons why Kokiri children cannot leave the forest.
She frowned even more as the Great Deku Sprout explained. He obviously cared deeply for everyone in the forest, especially her and Link. "I... I understand," she gasped. She loved the forest just as much as everyone else did. And she cared a lot for everyone too, especially Link. But without Link, she felt as if it a part of her was missing. And she lamented at that thought.
So she looked back up at the Great Deku Sprout and pleaded, "But... I'm different than the other Kokiri, and you know it. I'm growing up now. I'm not going to be a child for very much longer. On top of that, I'm the Forest Sage whose powers have awakened once already. You gave me so many books and told me so much about the outside world. And now that Link's leaving again, I want to go with him and see the world with him."
"And what would the others think if thou left the forest?" the Great Deku Sprout asked. "They all look up to thee and think of thee as an elder sister... perhaps even a mother."
"They look up to Link too... as do I... because he can leave the forest and they can't," Saria somberly said. "But... no one ever wonders why Link can leave the forest, and even grow up, and they can't. They don't even know that Link's really a Hylian. So they won't wonder why I leave the forest. The real question is: what will everyone think when they find out that I am growing up too?"
"Well, my dear Saria, that is a question that shall be answered when thou tell everyone or when they notice thee growing up," said the Great Deku Sprout. "But as different as thou art from the others, I simply cannot allow thee to leave the forest. It is far too dangerous out there, especially with evil falling upon Hyrule. Not only will I grieve if something happens to thee, but everyone in the forest, and especially Link, will grieve as well."
Saria felt a burning in her chest. She couldn't stand not being able to see Link for who knew how long. She couldn't stand him always having to leave. She wanted to accompany him on his adventures, and the Great Deku Sprout was shattering those hopes of possibly ever seeing him again. "But... I would be with Link. There's no safer place to be than near his side," she pleaded.
"Dost thou think that he would be able to complete his quest if he has to watch over thee as well?" the Great Deku Sprout asked a little more firmly. "It is already going to be a difficult ordeal for him, which is why I cannot burden him any more than I already have."
"Which is why I want to be there with him," Saria argued. "Just having his best friend there with him will put him more at ease on his journey. And I wouldn't have to worry about him either... just... be there for him and help him."
"Saria, I can't just let thee leave the forest because thou art having a difficult time dealing with Link having to leave the forest time and time again," the Great Deku Sprout firmly said.
Saria couldn't hold them back anymore. She hung her head down as the burning sensation reached her throat and eyes, forcing the tears to well up in her eyes.
"It is his destiny to embark on whatever adventures come his way, and thy place is here in the forest," the Great Deku Sprout continued. "Thou hast dealt with Link leaving the forest before and even gave him thy support as his best friend. Certainly thou can cope with it now."
"But Great Deku Sprout, I love him," Saria yelled, looking straight at the Great Deku Sprout with her tear-filled eyes and her face on the verge of weeping. She then fell to her hands and knees as her tears fell to the grass below, and gasped, "I love him."
The Great Deku Sprout stood silent upon seeing the tears shed from her beautiful blue eyes and hearing her say those words. And there, he pondered as Saria drew in a sharp breath.
"I can't stop thinking about him," Saria whimpered. "Whether he's away on a journey... or even home... there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. And when I think about him... it makes me feel so warm inside... and makes me want to be with him even more. And... when I am with him... I feel so happy. I'm in love with him... I know it."
"Yes... indeed thou dost," said the Great Deku Sprout as Saria cried. "I see thou hast grown so much in so many ways, more than even I realize."
"I've been with her throughout her whole life, and it's surprising even me with how much she's grown in the last couple years," Spryte explained, who was lovingly caressing Saria's shoulder as the young girl cried.
"It would greatly sadden me if I let Saria leave the forest too," the Great Deku Sprout somberly said. "I love all my children so much. But now Saria is beginning to understand the love I feel... and the love that she feels. So to keep Saria here, worrying about Link so much, would sadden me too."
After a brief moment of silence, as the Great Deku Sprout pondered this predicament, he made his decision. "Saria?"
"What?" Saria replied with her tears still evident in her voice.
"If it is what thou truly desire, then thou may accompany Link on his quest," said the Great Deku Sprout.
All of a sudden, Saria gasped loudly as a new wave of energy sparked within her. She looked back up at the Great Deku Sprout, with her face gleaming with joy. "Really?"
"Yes, Saria. But as I have said, the outside world is a wondrous place in its own way, but it is also a dangerous place for anyone who hath lived their entire lives under the protection of this forest," said the Great Deku Sprout. "Most assuredly I say to thee, once outside this forest, my powers cannot protect thee."
"I know," said Saria. "I'm willing to face the same dangers that Link will face. I wouldn't be much of a sage if I've never faced the good and the bad in the world, am I right?"
"Yes... indeed thou art," said the Great Deku Sprout. "And thou shalt have my blessings, my dear Saria. From this night forth, thou art permitted to leave this forest and see the world whenever thou desire, just as Link doth. And thou shalt always be welcome in Kokiri Forest... and have a home amongst us."
"Oh thank you, Great Deku Sprout," Saria squealed with joy as she leaped toward the forest patron and threw her arms around his trunk. "I love you."
"I love thee too, my dear Saria," the Great Deku Sprout said as Saria hugged him. "Be careful out there, okay?"
"I will, Great Deku Sprout. I promise," Saria complied as she let go of him.
The next morning...
Saria wasn't the only one who had a restless night. Link also had a difficult time falling asleep, with thoughts of leaving the forest and his beloved best friend behind dominating his mind. And not only that, he had also upset Saria and made her cry when he told her that he had to leave. The combination of sadness and guilt had kept him awake all the way past midnight. But he did at least get some sleep.
So after hearing Navi's reveille, Link pushed himself out of bed and splashed himself in the face with the cup of water he always kept by his bed. Despite having a poor night's sleep, Link had to wake himself up and get going toward Kakariko Village, Death Mountain, and Goron City as quickly as he could. He opened his wardrobe and grabbed his green Kokiri tunic, his white undershirt, his white tights, and his brown belt, bracers, and boots.
After quickly getting dressed, Link grabbed another couple of complete outfits for his long journey and packed them into a tight sack. The tight sack made it possible for Link to fit multiple outfits easily into his magical item sack. In fact, Link could carry everything he needed for an extended leave from home in that one item bag. It was simply one of the best and most practical gifts that he had ever gotten.
After grabbing a number of supplies that he would need on his long and unquestionably dangerous journey, Link looked around his house and checked himself over to make sure he didn't forget anything. Once assured that he'd forgotten nothing and was completely prepared, he strapped on his sword and shield and left his house.
With so little time having passed since the cucco crowed to signal the beginning of the day, only a couple of early-rising Kokiri were out in the village to start their usual morning chores. Link decided to pay them little attention, outside his usual greetings, and press on. The last thing he wanted was to attract the attention of every Kokiri in the forest and have to say his long goodbyes to every one of them. But when he passed by Saria's house, he paused and stared right at her front door. There, he pondered the girl whom he figured was still sleeping inside.
'I really don't want to leave you, Saria,' Link thought to himself. 'I want to be with you. I want to sit with you in the Lost Woods, to play some wonderful songs with you, and even hold you in my arms. But... I have to go; otherwise there won't be a Lost Woods for us to be alone together in. I'm sorry, Saria. But... I'll write you and come back to visit you... I promise.'
Link closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, he turned and made his way toward the passage out of the village, greeting a Kokiri girl along the way. When he reached the rope bridge, Navi spoke up.
"Are you okay with all of this, Link?" she asked.
"Yeah," Link somberly replied as he stepped onto the bridge. "I don't really have a choice, do I? Even if I wasn't okay with it all... I still have to do this, or else everyone in Hyrule will suffer if Twinrova releases Ganondorf."
"I knew you'd say that," said Navi.
"Link, waaaiit!" a girl's voice hollered just as Link reached the middle of the bridge.
He turned around, and his heart suddenly sank deep when he saw Saria emerge from the passage to the village and run up to him. He knew another long goodbye was coming, just like the last couple of times he left. It pained him to have to say goodbye to her, not knowing how long his adventure would be. In fact, he couldn't bear to have to go through it again, not after yesterday when he broke the news to her. Link only turned his eyes away from her and hung his head.
"Saria, there's... nothing you can say to make me change my mind," he somberly said.
"I know," Saria replied.
With his heart pounding in his chest and yesterday dwelling on his mind, Link took a deep breath. Then, he turned his face to meet Saria's blue eyes. "I'm sorry about yesterday," he apologized. "I'm sorry I made you cry."
Saria shook her head in response to Link's apology, "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I should be supporting you like I always have. I shouldn't have acted the way I did and run out on you last night."
"Yeah, I wish we could've spent one last night together before I leave," said Link, again reflecting on last night. He took another deep breath and continued, "Look, I'm sorry I have to go. I'll write to you as soon as I can and I'll write often. I'll even come back and visit whenever I can. I just... don't like having to say 'goodbye'... especially long goodbyes."
"Goodbye? What do you mean, 'goodbye'? I'm going with you," Saria argued.
Link paused for a moment as her words were rather slow to sink in. Surely, Saria was being facetious. She couldn't possibly think that she as a Kokiri could ever leave the forest with him, as much as he would've liked her to. But, when he looked down at her waist and saw a pair of sacks, not unlike his own, hanging from her belt, he inwardly gasped as he realized that she was being serious.
"G-going with me? Come on, Saria, don't be silly. You know that Kokiri can't leave the forest," Link argued.
"But you leave the forest all the time," Saria rebutted. "No one ever wonders why you can leave when they can't."
"Saria, we both know that I'm not a Kokiri. I didn't even get my own guardian fairy 'til I was 10, and for good when I was almost 13. I'm growing up while everyone else stays children forever," Link explained, and then turned away. "As much as Kokiri Forest is my home, I'm a Hylian, not a Kokiri. I'm not bound here like you are."
"Link, look at me," said Saria.
Link obediently turned to face Saria.
"I'm not like the other Kokiri, and you know it. I'm growing up too... even if I'm only growing half as fast as you are. And I'm going to be the Forest Sage," she explained.
"So? That doesn't mean you can leave the forest," Link argued. "You're still a Kokiri and are still bound to this forest just like everyone else.""
"Link, you're leaving on a long and hard journey. I can't imagine what kind of troubles you'll face along the way. But you need the support of your friends, and I can only do so much here. That's why I'm going with you," she continued to argue.
"Saria, you help me out a lot already just by being here," said Link.
"But what if something happens to you and I'm not there to help you?" said Saria.
"Saria, you're a Kokiri," Link argued back, raising his voice. "You can't leave this forest, and you know it. So don't even try to think that you can."
That response only served to anger Saria. She clinched her fists, stomped her right foot forward, and raised her voice back at him. "Oh yeah? Watch me."
And Saria stomped around a rather shocked Link and down the bridge toward the direction of Hyrule Field.
Now he knew that she was serious, and his heart immediately began to hammer at his chest when he realized what exactly she was doing. "No, Saria. Don't do it," he pleaded.
"Don't try to stop me, Link," Saria snapped as she furiously continued down the bridge.
Link acted quickly and ran toward Saria. He grabbed her by the shoulders and tried desperately to keep her from leaving. But Saria only struggled against him. "Saria, don't be an idiot," he pleaded as he struggled with her.
"Let... go of me," Saria grunted, trying to pull and struggle out of Link's grasp.
"Saria, if you leave, you'll die," Link pleaded, trying desperately to hold her back with everything he had. But it was no use as Saria kept squirming and pulling, slowly beginning to slip out of Link's grasp.
"Let... me... go!" Saria yelled as she turned around and shoved Link away. The force from Saria's push caused Link to stagger back and fall on his bum as Saria took off running out of the forest.
Link felt the burning sense of fear rush through his whole body as he watched Saria running seemingly to what he perceived to be her death. "Saria, no!" Link yelled, jumping back to his feet and running after her.
But his desperate attempt to stop Saria proved futile. Saria disappeared into the thickest parts of the forest between the bridge and Hyrule Field. She was simply too far ahead for him to reach her before she left the forest. Figuring that his beloved best friend was doomed to the fate that befell children who leave the forest, Link dropped to his hands and knees. There, he felt the tears well up in his eyes.
"Dammit, Saria, why did you have to go and do it?" Link asked no one in particular.
"Link...," Navi gasped. The pain that Link was feeling right then was so strong that even Navi was feeling it. And as both his and her pain hit her hard, tears began to roll down her own cheeks too.
"What were you trying to prove?" Link yelled, his tears made quite evident in his voice. "You knew that Kokiri die when they leave the forest. We all heard the stories."
"No... Saria...," Navi gasped, doing her best to choke back her own sobs. She was Link's guardian fairy. She had to be strong for him at a time when he hurt the most.
"Why, Saria? Why?" Link yelled before he finally began to cry.
'I wish I could to something for him,' Navi thought to herself as she watched the Hero of Time cry. 'I just wish, I could say something to help him feel better, something to help him mourn and continue his journey. Goddesses, he's hurting so much, and there's so little that I can do for him.'
"Link?" the voice of another fairy called out to him. "Link?"
Navi looked toward the path out of the forest to see Spryte speeding toward them. "Link, come quickly. You've got to see this," said Spryte, sounding quite urgent.
"Why? Saria's already dead. I know it," Link blubbered.
"No, Link. It's okay. Come on outside and see for yourself," Spryte reassured in a calmer and more joyful tone.
So Link stood back up and wiped the tears from his face and eyes. Then, he followed Saria's guardian fairy, running down the twisted path through the thick and hilly part of the forest. In only a few minutes time, he found the light that led out of the forest and picked up his pace, running past Spryte in the process. When he emerged from the forest and stepped foot onto the grass of Hyrule Field, he discovered Saria to not only be miraculously alive, but also looking all around her.
Saria stood there, far past the tree line, and gazed all about the field with a look of awe upon her face. As much as she had read about the outside world, as much as she had heard the stories from Link and the Great Deku Sprout, to finally get to see the world outside the forest with her own two eyes was totally amazing, to say the least.
"Saria?" Link said to her as he slowly approached her, oblivious to Saria being completely captivated by their surroundings. "Saria, are you alright?"
"Wow...," Saria gasped, barely above a whisper.
That one simple reaction sent a rush of relief through Link's body. 'Thank the goddesses she's okay,' he thought to himself. 'But... why? I thought... we thought... that Kokiri can't leave the forest.'
"So this is the great big world outside the forest," said Saria as she began to slowly walk further into Hyrule Field, completely aware of Link's presence.
Link stood there, watching Saria take in the sights and sounds of Hyrule Field. "Yes, Saria, this is it," he replied. "But this is only a small part of this great big world. Just Hyrule Field by itself is huge... so much bigger than even the Lost Woods."
Although it didn't seem so to Link, Saria listened to everything he said. She continued to slowly walk through the vast Hyrule Field, taking in every sight from the few trees to the rolling hills. But what amazed her the most was how far away she could see. After spending her whole life in the forest, with the trees blocking one's view of anything in the forest, Saria couldn't help but be amazed. She saw a few distant trees just peaking over the horizon and even a few of the jagged formations that she concluded to be the mountains that she had heard and read about. She had never seen anything so far away in her life, and it mesmerized her.
"So what do you think?" Link asked, smiling as he continued to watch Saria gazed all around her.
"I... I love it. It's just... simply... amazing," Saria gasped, still captivated by the whole new world that she was experiencing. Then suddenly, she took of running down the field. After a rather short run, she stopped, spread her arms, and twirled about while giggling like a schoolgirl.
Link and Navi both couldn't help but giggle along with Saria. Seeing her so ecstatic reminded them of how amazed and excited Link was when he first left the forest. 'Now I know she's okay,' Link thought to himself. 'I don't know how she was able to leave the forest, but... I'm glad. I'm glad that she can finally leave the forest with me. Now I can finally show her all the wonderful things in this world.'
Saria then ran back toward Link and Navi, wearing a bright and delighted smile, and threw herself into Link's arms, knocking him a few steps back. "Oh Link, this is so wonderful," she said as she hugged him tightly. "Now we can finally be together outside the forest, not just in the Lost Woods."
"Yes, it really is amazing," Link replied, as he returned Saria's embrace. "I'm just... so happy that you can be out here with me. But how? I thought that..."
Link's sentence suddenly cut off as Saria pressed her soft and silky lips to his. Effectively shut up by Saria's lips, Link closed his eyes and gently caressed them with his own. And there, they kissed under the morning sun, sharing with each other just how excited they were to get to be outside the forest together. They no longer had just the Lost Woods to themselves. They had the whole world.
After a short and blissful moment, Saria broke the kiss and opened her beautiful blue eyes. Then, she embraced him even tighter and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Oh I love you, Link," she softly said, squeezing him affectionately.
"I love you too, Saria," Link replied, returning her affectionate squeeze with one of his own. 'Love each other, huh?' he thought to himself as he held the pretty Kokiri girl close. 'I do love her, but that's the first time we've actually said it to each other. Though somehow, I have this feeling that we've said it before.'
"Now there's something you don't see everyday," a voice suddenly sounded. Startled, Link and Saria quickly let go of each other and looked all around them for whomever had spoken to them.
"I find here, outside the forest, not one but two fairy children," the voice continued. "Usually, I find only one of them."
Link and Saria both glanced up a nearly bare tree to find an enormous eagle owl perched atop its largest branch. "Oh hi there, Kaepora Gaebora," Saria greeted and waved at the wise old owl.
"Geez, Kaepora Gaebora, don't scare us like that," said Link
"I'm sorry, Link. I heard about what happened at both the forest and Zora's Domain. I'm just glad that everyone was okay and the Spiritual Stones are still safe. I assume that you're off to Goron City to see if they too fell to the same fate?" said Kaepora Gaebora.
"You know about all of that?" said Link.
"Of course I know about that," Kaepora Gaebora replied. "I also know that you're embarking on a much bigger journey than just checking on the Gorons. I too have sensed the evil that's fallen over Hyrule, you know, as have you. And I see that you aren't alone this time. Is that Saria accompanying you?"
"Yes, Saria's coming with me," Link replied.
"I wanted to help him and be there with him, and I left the forest so I could," Saria added.
"I see. It's wonderful that you two will be together on this journey," Kaepora Gaebora explained. "This will certainly be a trying journey for the both of you. It will put your special friendship through many tests, and it will also help it to grow even more. Link, having her with you is a blessing. Even during your toughest trials, having your best friend close to you will help ease the burden. She'll even help you to feel less homesick too."
"Believe me, I'm glad to have her with me in more ways than one," said Link.
"As long as you cherish your friendship, you two will do well. I must be going now. I'll fly on ahead and see what I can find out about the Gorons and the two witches who attacked you and the Zoras. Safe journey, dear children," said Kaepora Gaebora. He then spread his enormous wings and gave a few powerful flaps. And in an instant, Kaepora Gaebora was airborne and flying northward.
With the owl out of sight, Saria turned back to Link and asked, "So, which way do we go to see the Gorons?"
"Well..." Link began as he reached into his bag on his left hip and extracted his brown fairy ocarina. "As soon as Epona gets here, we'll head north toward Kakariko Village. It sits at the foot of Death Mountain, where the Gorons live, and lots of people live there. I'm sure they can help us once we get there."
"I see. And you call your horse with your ocarina?" Saria wondered.
"Yes. If it wasn't for this ocarina you gave me and you teaching me how to play it, I would never have befriended Epona," Link explained before he placed the ocarina to his lips.
"That's so wonderful," Saria commented, blushing slightly. It continued to amaze her just how much she had helped Link by teaching him the ocarina and giving him one as a gift.
Link, however, closed his eyes and began to play the sweet and pastoral "Epona's Song" to summon his equine friend. As he played the song that he had learned from Malon three years ago, Saria closed her eyes and slowly rocked side to side with the rhythm of the song.
"Such a pretty song to be calling your horse with," she softly commented.
A half-hour later, despite patiently waiting and even playing "Epona's Song" a couple more times, Epona never showed up. It was certainly unusual that the filly not show up, and it got both children and their fairies wondering.
"Well, where is she?" Link asked no one in particular.
"I thought your song always summoned her," said Saria.
"It does," Link reassured. "She never takes this long to get here, even if she's back at the Lon Lon Ranch... unless..."
"Unless... what?" Saria wondered as Link paused.
"Oh man, Talon must be riding her on one of his deliveries," Link concluded, lamenting at the thought. "Twinrova couldn't have picked a worse time to return."
"It's okay, Link," Saria reassured. "I kind of want to see and experience this world while we're on our way there."
"Yeah, I see your point," said Link, once again remembering his own first time outside the forest. He too wanted to experience the great big world when he was on his way to Hyrule Castle. So it was only natural that Saria would want to as well. And Link wasn't going to deny her that first experience.
"So how far is the village?" Saria asked.
"Oh, it's quite far," Link replied. "It takes me about a couple hours to get there on Epona, and she's the fastest horse around. So I doubt we'd make it there before sundown."
"Well, let's go," said Saria. "Let's go see this beautiful field on our way to the village."
So both children set off northward through Hyrule Field. Their trip there was to be long and tedious, but at least they could experience being surrounded by the scenery of this wonderful world outside the forest together. It was going to be the first of many long and semi-leisurely trips that they would take throughout this long and dangerous adventure. So they might as well enjoy these more leisurely trips whenever possible.
That evening...
An hour had passed since the sun had set. The sky continued to get darker and darker, making it harder for Link and Saria to navigate the field with only Link's lantern providing what little light it could. They still had some distance to go before reaching Kakariko Village, so they had decided to set up camp for the night.
They set up a small fire near a tree by the road, since the roads were always the safest places to keep near at night. They had what little bit of food that Link had brought with him to cook. And then, they leaned up against the tree together and enjoyed their first night together outside the forest.
Saria sat leaning into Link, with both her arms wrapped around his chest, her right cheek resting against his left shoulder, and her legs lying across his. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let out a very dreamy sigh. "This is so wonderful, Link," she softly commented. "Us, being alone together... only this time outside the forest... is just wonderful."
"It surely is," Link agreed as he affectionately squeezed Saria. He too had his arms wrapped around her shoulders as she leaned against him. To him, there was nothing that could ease the burden placed on his shoulders like having the beautiful Kokiri girl whom he loved in his arms.
But as wonderful as having her there with him was, one question kept beckoning him all day. "It's so great to have you here with me, but... how are you able to leave the forest and not die?" he asked. "I thought Kokiri couldn't leave the forest."
"Well... I'm different from the other Kokiri," Saria replied, her eyes still closed as she snuggled into Link a little bit more. "Kokiri can't leave the forest, but I think it's because we leave the Great Deku Sprout's protective powers when we do. We Kokiri remain as children forever, you know. So I think he just keeps us in the forest where we can always be children, safe from the dangers of the world as we can be, and where he can always watch over us. But... we're also a part of the forest just as much as the trees, bushes, and animals are."
"I think I understand," said Link. He then let his left hand drift to Saria's back and gently caress it. "So he basically let you leave the forest since you're growing up too, huh?"
"Mmhmm," Saria softly replied. She felt her body tingle slightly at Link's touch, and then quickly relax as it soothed her. "Feels so good," she softly said.
"Yeah, it does feel good, having you here with me," said Link as he continued to gently stroke and caress Saria's back. Although it wasn't the soft satin of her dress or her silky smooth skin, feeling the soft green fabric of Saria's tunic against his hand was far better than being without her for weeks or even months. Needless to say, having her in his arms made him feel so warm inside, knowing he was going to have this with her so much more often during this long journey.
"You know, Saria, this is going to be a wonderful adventure," he said. "We'll be together the whole time. Wherever our journey takes us, we'll get to see the world and experience its many wonders as well as its dangers along the way."
Link smiled at the wonderful thoughts about what all lied ahead for them both. It was going to be a dangerous adventure, just like his previous ones were. But that didn't mean that they couldn't share some wonderful company together when it wasn't so dangerous.
"There are so many places I want to show you, Saria," Link continued. "There's the overcrowded castle town and the majestic castle itself, there's the Lon Lon Ranch out in the middle of the field, and there's the enormous and beautiful Lake Hylia. There's so much in this world that I want to show you. I've wished for this for a long time, and now I finally get to show you the world. And I bet you want to see everything too, right Saria?"
Silence was the only response to everything Link was saying. Only the crackling of the campfire and a few crickets chirping sounded around them.
"Saria?" said Link, giving her a gentle jostle to see if she had heard him. But still, Saria remained still and silent. And then, Link glanced down at her face and discovered why as he found her eyes closed and her breathing slow and gentle.
"I see... fast asleep," Link softly commented, barely above a whisper. But he couldn't help but be captivated by the girl sleeping in his arms. She looked so happy and serene, cuddled up against him, that it warmed his heart. He had never had Saria fall asleep before he did, let alone in his arms. It was a completely new experience for him, and it ignited a whole new set of feelings within him.
"You must've been really tired, huh?" said Link as he tightened his hold on Saria, snuggling her in even closer. It wasn't just the overwhelming experience of being outside the forest and in the world for the first time that had left Saria drained. It was also the fact that she had gotten so little sleep the night before.
Link once again glanced down at Saria's pretty face and smiled. He then leaned his face toward hers and softly kissed her on her silky lips. "Good night, Saria. I love you," he softly whispered.
He then leaned his head against hers, closed his eyes, and slowly drifted to sleep as the pretty Kokiri girl lied comfortably in his arms. They both were certainly going to have some wonderful dreams tonight.
end of chapter 13
And thus their journey together begins. This is what I intended from the very beginning, for them to go on a long adventure... together. And I even included a little bit of Link/Saria squishiness at the end. So between Link's visit with the Great Deku Sprout, him breaking the news to Saria, Saria's visit to the Great Deku Sprout, Link and Saria leaving the forest together, and everything in between, they made for the longest chapter I've written for this story. I've written chapters for other stories in the past that were much longer, but nowadays when I write shorter yet more organized chapters, it's quite long. I had thought about splitting this chapter up, but I found no appropriate place to split this chapter up, especially since everything in this chapter dealt with the same theme, unlike my previous splits.
It was also the most difficult chapter I've ever written. It wasn't just the content that made it difficult, but also getting it to flow and making it really good that was the toughest part. I've had to rewrite parts of this chapter twice, maybe three times in one area, before I got it write. It was to be a major chapter in the story, so I wanted to get it right. It wasn't easy, but I'm satisfied with the results. I thank all the readers who have been so patient with waiting for these chapters to come out. I know there are writers who take much much longer to put out chapters, which can often be a turn-off for readers... which is why I try to update as quickly as I can, but not so quick as it degrades my writing. I thank everyone for their support thus far, and hope everyone is enjoying this story and will come back for more. Any and all reviews are always welcome.
Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda and its characters ain't mine, but belong to Nintendo and the various creators and directors of each of the games. So, please don't sue me. I'm just a lonely man who ain't got anything but his pride. Well, y'all enjoy this fanfic and review.
Have fun Zelda fans,
Viper Inferno
(Y2V)